Shade-holder.



IVI. P. STEVENS* SHADE HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED MAII. I4. I9I6.

LQQ@ Paented Jan. 8,1918.

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MERTON P. STEVENS, OF EASTORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

SHADE-HOLDER.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 14, 1916. Serial No. 84,092..

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, MERTON P. STEVENS, a citizen of the United States, residing in the town of East Orange, county of Essex, and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Shade- I-Iolders, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to form a shade holder which will firmly and positively grip the shade, no matter how heavy the shade or the vibration to which the shade and holder may be subjected.

Figure l is a vertical elevation and partial section of a shade holder embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on lines 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical elevation and partial section of a modification of my invention.

Fig. 4 is a perspective of the ring employed in-the modification, cut away to show the interior construction.

In the drawing, A is a stem, containing the usual wiring and C is a socket cover or hood inclosing the usual socket. The socket hood is securely held at its aperture B, between the stem and the socket. The lower portion of this socket hood is pierced with slits D to form resilient spring fingers E, which are convoluted to form arches H, so that the shade G can be forced within the mouth of the socket hood. IVhen the shade G is held by the fingers of the socket hood only, I have found that it is not firmly held and also that even if a ring is placed over the socket hood so as to engage the spring fingers E, the shade will not positively be retained under all conditions. It is only when this ring is split and resilient or provided with a spring` or other additional means to compress the lower part of the arches H that will furnish` in combination with the hood, a shade engaging means which will withstand any jar or unusual vibration.

T he shade is fastened in position in the usual way by forcing the neck thereof into the mouth of the hood. In Figs. 1 and 2, L is a ring which slides loosely on the upper part of the hood, C. This ring is split at M and is formed of resilient material. Its function is to press on the arches H of the fingers of the socket cover when the holder is in position. The pressure of the neck o1 the shade against the 'arches forces the latter to press against the split resilient ring, and the ring, because of its shape and rigidity furnishes sufficient resistance to prevent the shade from being accidentally dislodged. The only'way the shade can be removed is to force the ring up, thus spreading 1t until 1t passes the arches when the fingers are released and the shade can be pulled out.

In the modification shown in Fig. 3 the ring isformed with an arched upper portion I and a lower portion J, which is turned up to make a circular tube-like receptacle to in-v closevthe spring K. rI`he ring is pushed down the socket-cover until the portion J ofthe ring inclosing the spring K is pushed over the arched spring fingers H of the hood thus forcing the ends of the spring apart; when the ring is pushed down still farther the upper portion I thereof engages vthe arches H of the socket-cover the portion J slips below the. arches to the smaller diamf eter thereof at that point and the spring contained in the tube contracts and forms a perfect gripping means for holding the shade. Any pull on the shade forces the gripping arches inclosed by the upper part I against the spring inclosed in the tube, with a tendency to spread the spring, which tendency is resisted according to thepower and size of the spring used. Fig. 4 shows the ring employed in this modication in perspective.

I am aware that the simple socket cover of the form employed is not new and that it has been used in connection with solid, non-resilient rings. In the present invention, however, I aim to do away with the difficulty which has been found to exist in connection with this combination in certain cases. The drawing shows the invention as applied to an electric light fixture, but the same combination can be used in connection with gas or oil lamps. No particular form of socket cover is necessary but any form Patenten Jan. s, isis.-

may be used as long as it has the spring finping arches adapted to engage the top of the shade, the ring conforming to the shape of the arches and `being provided-With anupper portion adapted to engage the arches and a lower portion bent to inclose a spring, the spring portion being below the arches andadapted to .retain the ring in locked position around the fingers.

2. A shade-holder for artificialy lights, comprising .a socketfcover member and a resilient spring` member, the lowerportion of the cover 'being bent to form resilient gripping arches adapted to engage the top of the shade, the resilient spring member being provided with an upper portion and a lower spring-portion conforming to the shape of the gripping arches and bent to inclose a spring, the ring being freely mov able on the cover until the upper portion engages 'the arches of the. cover and the spring below the arches retains the ring in lockedA position arouncl'the fingers.

3. A shade-holder for artificial lights, com rising a socket cover member and a resi ient spring member, thelower portion of the cover being bent to form resilient griping arches, adapted to engage the top of tie shade, the resilient spring member conforming to the shape' of the gripping arches andv provided with an independent spring to retain the gripping arches ink locked position.

4. A shade-holder for` artificial lights, comprising a socket cover member and a resilient spring member, the lower portion of the cover being bent to form resilient gripping archesV adapted to engage the top of the shade, the ring member conforming to the shape of the gripping arches and provided with an inclosed spring member and adapted to move freely on upper part of the cover and to grip tightly the gripping arches. Y' s 5. A shade-holder for artificial lights, comprising a socket cover member and a resilient spring member, the lower portion of the cover being bent to form resilient arches adapted to engage the` top of the shade, the spring member conforming to the shape of the gripping arches and provided with an f upper portion adapted to engage the arches and a lower portion bent to inclose a spring, the spring-portion being below the arches and adapted to retain the ring in locked position around them.

MERTON P; STEVENS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of latents.

Washington, D. C. t 

